In the summer of 2008, they starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock and its sequel, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam. They also starred as Kevin, Joe, and Nick Lucas, the band JONAS, in their own Disney Channel series JONAS, which was later re-branded for its second season as Jonas L.A. The show was eventually canceled after two seasons. The band released four albums: It's About Time, Jonas Brothers, A Little Bit Longer, and Lines, Vines and Trying Times.
In 2008, the group was nominated for the Best New Artist award at the 51st Grammy Awards and won the award for Breakthrough Artist at the American Music Awards. Before the release of Lines, Vines and Trying Times, they sold over eight million albums worldwide. After a hiatus in 2010 and 2011 to pursue solo projects, the group reconciled in 2012 to record a new album, which was canceled in 2013 following their breakup. In the years that followed, Nick became a solo artist and actor, Joe formed a band called DNCE, and Kevin stepped out of the spotlight to focus on his family. On February 28, 2019, the band announced their reunion on The Late Late Show with James Corden and planned to put out new music.
On March 1, they released a new single, "Sucker" under Republic Records. They appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden each night from March 4 to 7 to promote the track. The song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and the US Hot Digital Songs chart, with 88,000 copies sold in its first week, becoming the Jonas Brothers' first number-one song and the first number-one by a boy band on the chart since 2003's "Bump, Bump, Bump" by B2K. It became the band's first entry on the chart since 2013's "Pom Poms" and their first top 10 since 2008's "Tonight". The Jonas Brothers also became the second group in history to have a song debut at number one after Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" and the first group in this century to achieve this. In its April 13, 2019 issue, "Sucker" became The Jonas' first top 10 on Dance/Mix Show Airplay, surging 20–6 in its third week of charting.
On April 5, the group released the single "Cool". On April 22, the band announced their album Happiness Begins, which was released on June 7, 2019, and preceded by a documentary titled Chasing Happiness, which premiered on June 4 on Amazon Prime Video. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, marking the biggest debut of 2019, and maintained the record until Taylor Swift's seventh studio album, Lover, was released on August 23 of the same year. The group embarked on their tenth headlining tour, the "Happiness Begins Tour", performing 92 shows around the globe.
On January 17, 2020, the band released the single "What a Man Gotta Do". On January 24, they announced a residency show in Las Vegas named Jonas Brothers in Vegas at the Park Theater at Park MGM beginning on April 1, with eight other dates during the month keeping them in place until the 18th. The residency was ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The band performed at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards on January 26, revealing a new song titled "Five More Minutes". On May 15, they released a two-track bundle titled XV, which contains the singles "X" and "Five More Minutes", the former of which features Colombian singer Karol G. On May 16, they made an appearance on Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020 to perform their new song. On October 30, they released another Christmas song titled "I Need You Christmas". On March 15, 2021, a deluxe version of Nick Jonas' fourth studio album, Spaceman, was released. The record included the song "Selfish", which featured the Jonas Brothers.
On May 19, 2021, the Jonas Brothers announced that they would be embarking on their eleventh headlining tour, the Remember This Tour, consisting of 44 shows at outdoor venues around the United States, with the tour beginning on August 20, 2021, in Las Vegas. During their Remember This Tour tour, the Jonas Brothers required all fans attending their shows to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative COVID-19 test. The brothers released a statement on social media saying "We believe this is the best thing we can do for our fans, our hard-working crew, and the communities we're visiting." Kelsea Ballerini was announced as a special guest for a majority of shows. On May 21, DJ Marshmello released "Leave Before You Love Me", a single featuring the Jonas Brothers. Two days later, they performed the single at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards, with Nick Jonas also serving as the host for the ceremony. The single "Remember This" premiered on June 18 and was used in NBC's coverage of the 2020 Summer Olympics. They recorded the song "Mercy" for the soundtrack of Space Jam: A New Legacy which was released on July 9.
On September 5, 2021, during the band's Remember This Tour, the Jonas Brothers premiered a new song titled "Who's in Your Head" while performing at the Red Rocks Parks and Amphitheater in Colorado. The single was released on September 17. On March 1, 2022, they announced a 5-dates residency show in Las Vegas named Jonas Brothers: Live in Vegas, taking place from June 3 to June 11. It was followed by a second 3-dates residency, which took place in November of the same year.
In January 2023, while appearing on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Nick Jonas announced that the band's new album was completed. On January 30, 2023, the Jonas Brothers received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and announced that their sixth studio album, titled The Album, would be released on May 5, 2023. The record was preceded by its lead single, "Wings", which was released on February 24 of the same year. "Waffle House" was released as the second single on April 7, 2023.
Don't Charge Me For The Crime ft. Common
Jonas Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some things go right, some things go wrong
It's just how the world can be
People just wanna be free
Yeah
The verdict came in and it said I was guilty
I looked at the judge, "Hey, America built me"
Only God can judge me, touch me, feel me!
My friend calls me at nine o'clock
Says, "Get the car, it's time to rock."
Never heard him speak this way
(Way, way)
Let's go man
I grab the keys and hit the road
It's all a flash, but who would know
How this story would unfold
Don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time
Don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time
Don't charge me for the crime
My friend gets in the car with bags
Filled to the top with loads of cash
(See this paper right here?)
And throws the pistol on the dash
(Yeah, it's time to get money now)
Says, "I'm sorry for the crime
That I've involved you in this time,
You're the only friend I've got"
So don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time
Don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time
Don't charge me for the crime
I start to freak and scream so loud
Just like the females in the crowd
That's when he gets in my head
(Head, head)
(Come on man, we gotta do this)
You could live just like a king
With everything you'd ever need
All the dreams of every man
Don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time
Don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time, you know
Don't charge me
Sirens sound and
My heart was poundin'
I looked at my man as the cops surround 'em
A teen on the scene with no objective
The American dream can be so deceptive
Now I see the flashing lights
There goes my future and my life
Now I've gotta do what's right
(Right, right)
(Oh, man, they've got us, they've got us)
I stop the car and throw the keys
Out of the window, sets me free
I throw the pistol in the back
(Back, back)
(Ah, ah, ah)
I throw him out of the car, I say,
"You know me well,
I'm not goin' to jail
I'm not paying your bail
Believe me when I say,
They won't charge me for the crime"
Wrong place, wrong time (yeah)
Don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time
Won't charge me! Oh
Wrong place,
Wrong time
Wrong place,
Wrong time
They won't charge me for the
Crime
In "Don't Charge Me For The Crime", the Jonas Brothers and hip-hop artist Common tell the story of friends who become involved in a crime which they believe was committed out of necessity rather than malice. The song explores themes of loyalty, desperation and the American Dream. The opening lines highlight the unpredictability of life, with some things going right while others don't. The lyrics switch to narration of illegal activity, with Common rapping about the verdict of guilt and his own personal philosophy regarding judgement.
The story continues with a panicked phone call from a friend, who tells the singer that it's time to commit a crime for money. As they flee the scene, they are chased by police sirens in a high-speed chase. Jonas Brothers then reveal that they threw their friend out of the car and take the fall for the crime themselves. The final lines repeat the phrase "Wrong place, wrong time", emphasizing the idea that the singer was not a willing participant and should not be charged for the crime.
Overall, "Don't Charge Me For The Crime" is a thought-provoking song that deals with issues such as crime, punishment, and loyalty. The song raises the question of how far people will go for the opportunity to achieve the American Dream and challenges the concept of whether a person should be held liable for a crime if they were forced into it.
Line by Line Meaning
This is life in this world
Life can be unpredictable and sometimes things go wrong, which is just a part of life in this world.
Some things go right, some things go wrong
Life can have both good and bad moments.
It's just how the world can be
The world can be unfair at times and things happen beyond our control.
People just wanna be free
People desire to have freedom in their lives to live on their own terms.
The verdict came in and it said I was guilty
I was declared guilty by the court.
I looked at the judge, "Hey, America built me"
I tried to defend myself by saying that I am the product of the American society.
Tried to get rich, but they label me filthy
I attempted to make money but was stigmatized as dirty or corrupt for doing so.
Only God can judge me, touch me, feel me!
I believe that only God has the right to judge, feel or touch me.
My friend calls me at nine o'clock
My friend contacted me at nine in the evening.
Says, "Get the car, it's time to rock."
My friend told me to get the car because it's time to have fun.
Never heard him speak this way
I was surprised because I had never heard my friend speak in that manner before.
I grab the keys and hit the road
I took the car keys and went on the road.
It's all a flash, but who would know
It was a fleeting moment, and nobody could have predicted what would happen.
How this story would unfold
Events unfolded in a way that nobody could have foreseen.
Don't charge me for the crime
I don't want to be held responsible for the crime that's about to occur.
Wrong place, wrong time
This situation occurred because we were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
My friend gets in the car with bags
My friend enters the car carrying bags.
Filled to the top with loads of cash
The bags are filled to the brim with cash.
And throws the pistol on the dash
He places a pistol on the dashboard.
Says, "I'm sorry for the crime
My friend apologizes to me for involving me in this crime.
That I've involved you in this time,
He is remorseful about dragging me into this situation.
You're the only friend I've got"
I am his only friend, and he recognizes that he made a mistake in involving me.
So don't charge me for the crime
He pleads with me not to hold him responsible for the crime.
I start to freak and scream so loud
I become panicked and start screaming loudly.
Just like the females in the crowd
My reaction is similar to that of the women in a crowd.
That's when he gets in my head
He tries to manipulate my thought process.
You could live just like a king
He tells me about the riches and luxury that come with the lifestyle he has chosen to lead.
With everything you'd ever need
He assures me that everything I could ever want can be mine if I join him.
All the dreams of every man
He is appealing to my deepest desires and wants.
Sirens sound and
We hear the sound of police sirens.
My heart was poundin'
My heart was racing with fear and apprehension.
I looked at my man as the cops surround 'em
I watched as the police surrounded him.
A teen on the scene with no objective
I am a teenager who is caught in this situation without any clear plan or motive.
The American dream can be so deceptive
This is a critical commentary on the deceptive nature of the American dream.
Now I see the flashing lights
I am aware of the presence of police lights.
There goes my future and my life
The situation has effectively ruined my future and my life.
Now I've gotta do what's right
I am left with no choice but to do the right thing.
I stop the car and throw the keys
I stop the car and throw the car keys out of the window.
Out of the window, sets me free
Throwing the car keys out of the window is symbolic of freeing myself from the situation.
I throw the pistol in the back
I discard the pistol by throwing it onto the back seat of the car.
I throw him out of the car, I say,
I eject my friend from the car and tell him.
"You know me well,
I remind him that he knows me well.
I'm not goin' to jail
I am determined not to go to jail.
I'm not paying your bail
I won't post bail for him either.
Believe me when I say,
I implore him to trust me when I say,
They won't charge me for the crime
I am confident that I won't be charged for the crime.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, KAREN SCHAUBEN PUBLISHING ADMINISTRATION
Written by: LONNIE LYNN, JOSEPH JONAS, KEVIN JONAS, NICHOLAS JONAS, RYAN LIESTMANS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind